A WOMAN who suffered a stroke as a teenager has set up her own branch of a charity after she was left unable to walk, talk or even read seven years ago.

Louise Kenworthy was 17 and in the middle of her A-levels when the stroke turned her life upside down and left her unable to complete even relatively simple tasks.

Seven years on, and after many months of rehabilitation, Ms Kenworthy, now 24, has set up a Darlington branch of Different Strokes, a charity which gives support and advice to stroke patients.

Ms Kenworthy, from Middleton St George, near Darlington, had her stroke when she was at her boyfriend's flat, getting ready for college.

"I was combing my hair and I just fell to the floor," she said. "I just fell down the wall as if my legs didn't work. I crawled into bed and tried to use my mobile phone to text, but I couldn't do it.

"All the right hand side of my body was cold. I was hugging it to keep warm."

Alone in the flat at the time of her stroke and unable to contact anyone, Ms Kenworthy had to wait eight hours until her boyfriend came home at 4pm.

She was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital by taxi, where she was diagnosed with a stroke, before being transferred to Middlesbrough General Hospital.

"When I got home, my mum rang the hospital for a speech therapist," she said. "I had to see the speech therapist for 18 months. She helped me with my memory as well. She was fantastic."

Although left with speech, memory and movement problems, Ms Kenworthywas determined to return to college and complete her education. She had been a year into her courses, but had to start again from the beginning.

At Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, she was given a tutor, who she initially saw three times a week.

"We got a book and I couldn't read it," she said. "I had to learn how to read again, as well as how to walk and speak again."

After college, Ms Kenworthy embarked on an occupational therapy course at Teesside University, but found the work a little too close to home, so instead of going back for her final year, she started temping.

"I still wanted to help people," she said.

"I got in touch with Different Strokes and realised the Newcastle branch was the nearest one, so I asked if I could set up my own."

Eight months on, the Darlington branch has 12 members. The group is self-funding and run by stroke survivors.

"We are raising awareness and helping people and their families cope with stroke," Ms Kenworthy said. "It has even helped me being in charge of it."

Different Strokes and St Teresa's Hospice hold a charity ball on Friday, October 19, at Blackwell Grange Hotel, in Darlington, 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets are available on 01325-745791 or 01325-745781.